Continuous packaging and packageranging unit



y 1962 SENZANI 3,032,946

CONTINUOUS PACKAGING AND PACKAGE-RANGING"'UNIT Filed Sept. 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ZERO sENzANi x. w 5 6 S 3'! Atty CONTINUOUS PACKAGING AND PACKAGE-RANGING"UNIT Filed Sept. 9, 1959 l. SENZANl May 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENT R SENZANi nits states I ate ice 3,032,946 CONTINUOUS PACKAGING AND PACKAGE- RANGING UNIT Iro Senzani, Corso Garibaldi 38, Faenza, .l'taly Filed Sept. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 838,966 Claims priority, application Italy Sept. 13, 1958 6 Claims. (Cl. 53-61) This invention relates to a unit comprising a packaging machine and package-ranging machine. In this unit, empty boxes or wrappers are fed to the charging station of a packaging machine, from which filled and closed boxes or packages are discharged to a ranging equipment which ranges the packages in groups of a predetermined number of packages. One of the objects of the invention is to provide an arrangement for a packaging machine which permits an easy feeding of the empty packages and discharging of the filled packages from the packaging machine to the ranging machine.

Another of the objects of the invention is to provide means for adjusting simultaneously the height of the supporting members of the packages both in the packaging machine and in the package-ranging machine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide im-. proved pusher means for transferring the filled packages from the packaging machine to the ranging machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for varying at will the number of packages of each row on the ranging machine.

Other improvements relate to the means for seizing the empty packages at the inlet end of the packaging machine and for abandoning the filled and closed packages at the delivery end of the packaging machine, adjoining the inlet end of the ranging machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification, reference being had to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a unit composed of a packaging machine and a package-ranging machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows diagrammatically in perspective view the means for simultaneously varying the height of the supporting means of the packages both on the packaging machine and on the package-ranging machine;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of part of the carrier belt of the ranging machine, in correspondence of two electric contacts;

FIGURES 4 and 5 are plan view of a package clamp in closed and opened positions, respectively, and

FIGURES 6 and 7 show partially in section the means for fastening the clamps shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 to a supporting member mounted on the carrier chain.

With reference to FIGURE 1, the packaging machine of the packaging and ranging unit comprises, like most packaging machines of this kind, a carrier chain K provided at suitable intervals with package clamps P and supported by a pair of sprocket wheels Z and Z one of which is positively driven, preferably by a conventional stepwise moving mechanism (not shown) while the other is idle.

The empty packages, which in the example as shown are in the form of cartons and are inserted, either manually or by conventional mechanical means (indicated by the arrow F) at the charging station into a clamp P fastened to chain K. Said empty packages, as shown, have their top and bottom flaps open and are carried by the conveyor chain K first on the pasting rollers RR, where the lower flaps are coated with an adhesive and then closed by suitable conventional means (not shown) provided on the first wing of an adjoining U-shaped platform 9 arranged parallel to one end of the chain conveyor, in correspondence of the wheel Z. In an intermediate position of this platform 9 the package-filling hopper T is arranged, which fills the empty packages which are then carried away, under a device for pasting the upper flaps of the filled packages A and which comprise a pair of rollers R" and R. The pasted flaps at the top of the filled packages A are then closed by known means (not shown) and the closed packages pass to the packaging machine delivery station, where they are subjected to the action of a pair of pushers 4 and 5.

This station comes to be on the straight end of the inner run of the chain K, opposite the empty packages charging station and adjoining the inlet end of the rang ing device which will be described hereinafter.

The said pushers 4 and 5 are fastened to the forked ends of a slidable pusher bar 3 hinged at the end of an upright arm 2 of a double-armed lever fulcrumed at 1 and whose lower arm (not shown, as it comes to be below the slot shown by said pivot 1) is the control arm, which is driven in timed relation with each stopping of the chain K. Due to the spaced arrangement of the pushers 4 and 5, these abut near the top and bottom of one side of each filled package A and push same away from the clamp and onto the adjoining carrier belt N of the ranging device B.

The ranging device B comprises a carrier belt N arranged with its upper run at level with the platform 9 and an upper or retaining belt N arranged with its lower run suitably spaced from the upper run of belt N, so as to permit to the upright packages A to snugly pass therebetween, thus holding and guiding the upright packages. The carrier belt N extends at its delivery end beyond the corresponding end of the upper belt N and adjoining to the delivery end of belt N a ranging table 8 is provided.

The device may be adjusted to packages of different heights by lifting or lowering the parts which come into contact with the bottom of the packages, such as platform 9 and belt N, the packages being seized by the clamps P at a constant height under their top, so that it is sufficient to register the parts which come into contact with the package bottoms and particularly the platform 9 and the belt N, and in the embodiment as shown means are preferably provided for automatically varying at the same time both heights.

For this purpose the frame 10 which'carries the belt N and the platform 9 are mounted on like screw posts 11 screwed in rotatable screw nuts 12 each integral with a sprocket wheel 13. By rotating simultaneously all sprocket wheels 13, for example by means of chains 14, 15 and 16, both the frame 10 (and with it the belt N) and the platform 9 are lifted or lowered by the same amount.

In order to form on the belt N rows of packages, in which each row comprises a desired number of packages, and to automatically shift the belt after the completion of each row of packages, a pair of electric contacts 7 is arranged at the outer side of the inlet end of said belt N. These contacts 7, which may be arranged shiftable and adjustable on a supporting rod 107, FIG. 3, are of the kind as to be closed whenever one package is pushed with a light pressure against the inside or movable contact. The closure of the contacts 7 promotes the synchronous advancing of the belt N and N and their opening promotes the immediate or delayed stopping of said belts. Both the driving of said belts N and N" and their stopping by the opening of the contacts 7 are effected in any known manner, and therefore needs not to be described. It is apparent however that the number of packages in each row may be varied by varying the position of the contacts 7 upon the rod 107. This may be useful for conforming the number of packages of each row to the width of the standard boxes or parcels composed of a determined number of packages.

The clamps P (FIGURES 4 and 5) comprise a block 17 on which a fixed jaw 221 is fastened by means of a screw 18 and a movable jaw 121 provided with a con trol tail portion 21 is swingably mounted on a screw 19 whose stern projects by a substantial length out of the block 17, a spring 21) being inserted under compression on said screw stem, between the screw head and part of the jaw 121.

A thus constructed clamp may be opened either by forcibly inserting or extracting a package A between or from the jaws 121221, or also by pressing, as by means of roller 6, FIGURE 5, the tail portion 21 of the movable clamp, as clearly shown in said FIGURE 5. The roller or other abutment member may be mounted either on a fixed frame part, for example at the charging station, or also on the pushencarrying rod 3 or attached parts, at the discharging station.

The said clamps may be readily fastened to a suitable supporting and guide member 22 fastened to the chain K and provided with a pair of parallel pins 28 and an intermediate retaining block 27 provided with a peripheral groove 26.

In order that the said clamps may be readily fastened to said supporting member 22, in the block 17 of each clamp a piston-like member comprising a head 23 is slid ably mounted in a corresponding bore or cylinder 123. To the piston head 23 a piston rod 24 is attached, which is of such a length as to normally project through a corresponding bore out of the side of block 17, while the head is pressed towards the inner end of its bore 123 by a spring 125 maintained compressed against said head 23 by a plug 25 screwed into the outer end of said bore. A bore 127 having the diameter of the retaining block 27 is formed in the block 17 in such a position that the cylindrical surfaces of the two bores 1.23 and 127 intersect with each other by an amount which is substantially equal to the depth of the groove 26, the whole being so dimensioned and arranged that when the piston rod 24 is pushed inwardly so that it comes in correspondence of the bore 127, the cylindrical block 27 may be disengaged from the block 17, but when the piston head 23 is allowed to slide to the end of the bore 123, as shown in FIGURE 6, it retains the block 27 and thus the block 17 of the corresponding clamp comes to be fastened to the member 22. In order to render this fastening steady, the member 22 is provided with projecting pins 28 which may be inserted in corresponding bores of the block 17.

From the foregoing it is apparent that an improved packaging and package-forming unit has been devised by which the empty packages and the full and closed packages are charged and respectively discharged in correspondence of the straight runs of a carrier chain and means are provided for ranging automatically said packages on a package ranging device mounted by the said packaging machine and permitting the forming of rows of any desired suitable number of packages.

I claim:

1. A packaging machine comprising a substantially horizontal endless chain carrier, spaced package holding clamps extending laterally from the carrier, said clamps being attached to chain links and movable with the carrier throughout its course without change of position relative to the links to which they are secured, means for sealing the bottom of a package inserted in said clamps in upright position, a platform positioned below and parallel with said chain carrier for supporting the sealed bottom of an upright package from a point past the bottom sealing means to a discharge station, means for filling the upright package while it is in transit from the bottom sealing means to the discharge station, means for sealing the top of a filled package before it reaches said discharge station, a laterally positioned adjoining belt carrier arranged with its upper run substantially level with said platform and moving in the same direction as said chain carrier at said discharge station, discharge means for releasing a package from the clamps and moving the package laterally of the chain carrier onto said belt carrier, and means for vertically adjusting both said belt carrier and platform simultaneously to accommodate packages of different height.

2. A packaging machine according to claim 1, Wherein is additionally provided belt conveyor movement actuating means including a pair of electric contacts and adjustable laterally of the belt conveyor opposite said discharge station, whereby said belt conveyor may be actuated to move when diflferent numbers of packages have been deposited thereon.

3. A packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein said means for adjusting the platform and the belt conveyor comprise vertical screw shafts supporting the platform and the belt conveyor in a horizontal plane and displaced laterally of each other, pulleys threaded on said shafts, and means linking said pulleys to revolve together upon turning movement of one of said pulleys.

4. A packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein a second belt carrier is located in a fixed position above said first belt carrier and operable to move parallel therewith, said package when discharged onto the first belt carrier being receivable in an upright position between said first and second belt carriers and held thereby for guided movement along said belt carriers.

5. A packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein each of said spaced clamps comprises a block, spring means releasably latching said block to said chain carrier, a pair of jaws secured to the block for clamping the package, one of said jaws being spring urged to clamping position, and means acting on said spring urged jaw for opening the same at predetermined fixed locations.

6. A packaging machine according to claim 5, wherein said block is provided with transverse intersecting bores, a transversely grooved pin on one of said bores securing the block to said chain carrier, and a spring urged second pin in the other of said bores for locking the block to the chain carrier by engagement in the groove of said first pin, said second pin extending through said block and beyond whereby a pushing movement on the outer end will move the second pin against the urgency of its spring loading to release the block from the chain carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,922,412 Allen Aug. 15, 1933 2,651,898 Kimball Sept. 15, 1953 2,757,498 Jagenberg et a1. Aug. 7, 1956 2,762,274 Kerr Sept. 11, 1956 2,915,865 Anderson et a1 Dec. 8, 1959 

